And my first year writing seminar. Here’s what I just told them at the start of our last class session:

“Thank you. It’s been a challenging semester with the university’s financial challenges and other conflicts in other parts of my life. This class has always been a wonderful break from that. I’ve appreciated how you’ve embraced the course content and worked to improve your writing. Most of all though, I’ve drawn inspiration from the friendly and respectful way you’ve interacted with each other all semester. It gives me hope for the future. I’m going to miss this class.”